Supporters of a former ASIO undercover agent who spent extensive time with one of the alleged perpetrators of the Bondi terror attack are redoubling their efforts to secure him a visa to allow him to testify in person before the royal commission into antisemitism.
The ex-agent, known as Marcus, was denied a visa by the Department of Home Affairs on the grounds it believes he may seek to prolong his stay in Australia.
Marcus’ appearance in a Four Corners program earlier this year, in which he said he warned ASIO about alleged gunmen Sajid and Naveed Akram six years before the Bondi shooting, drew a furious pre-emptive response from ASIO.
ASIO claimed Marcus “has a track record of making statements that are untrue” and described him as an “unreliable and disgruntled source” – accusations he denied.
The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion has told Marcus it wants to hear his evidence as it probes possible failures by intelligence and security agencies in the years before the worst terror attack in Australia’s history, which led to the death of 15 innocent people.
Naveed Akram has been charged with 78 offences, including committing a terrorist act and 15 counts of murder.
While Marcus has been given the option of testifying from an Australian embassy overseas, his lawyers have said he would not be able to get to one and that he may not be covered by certain legal protections overseas.
Gabriel Shipton, who leads the Information Rights Project, a whistleblower protection group, said his organisation would re-apply for a visa for Marcus on Friday in the hopes the government changes its mind.
“It is important for Marcus, as a source, to have his allegations heard in a forum that will give them impact,” said Shipton, the brother of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
“Marcus truly believes in the work he is doing, which is why he revealed what he did.
“He thought lives could have been saved because of the information he collected in his work.”
Marcus, who worked as a paid source for ASIO for several years, is in hiding overseas because of threats to his life from the Islamic State terror group, Shipton said.
Independent MPs David Pocock and Allegra Spender have called for him to be allowed to testify, while the opposition said it is important for the royal commission to hear his evidence one way or another.
Marcus has also been asked to give evidence at a separate NSW inquiry examining the massacre.
Greens senator David Shoebridge branded the visa rejection “a deeply political decision, and now the royal commission may never hear his evidence”.
“It looks like a stitch-up by those who don’t want this on the record,” he said.
The Department of Home Affairs told Marcus’ lawyers it was “not satisfied the applicant has a genuine intention to stay temporarily in Australia”, the ABC reported on Monday.
He previously sought assistance for protection and resettlement in Australia, but was unsuccessful.
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Matthew Knott is the foreign affairs and national security correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.Connect via X, Facebook or email.From our partners
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